Predicted Extreme Heat Weather Warnings

Yesterday schools received advice from the Department of Education.

“Predicted Extreme Heat Weather Warnings

The Met Office has extended an amber extreme heat warning for Sunday 17 July, Monday 18 July and Tuesday 19 July, as temperatures will build this weekend and early next week for much of England and Wales.

Temperatures could be in excess of 35°C in the southeast, and more widely around 32°C within the warning area, with Monday and Tuesday most likely to see temperatures around this level.

There is clear government guidance on looking after children and those in early years settings during heatwaves, including the use of ventilation, keeping children hydrated, and avoiding vigorous physical activity, encouraging children to wear loose, light coloured clothing and sunhats with wide brims, to use sunscreen, and providing them with plenty of water.

Individual school leaders are responsible for managing their own local circumstances. We are not advising schools to close.”

In response to this advice please note the following:

Send your children to school in the lightest, loosest clothing they have (no uniform required). No sleeveless items of clothing permitted.
Ensure they have filled water bottles with them – you might want to add ice to the bottle so that at the start of the day their drinks are cool.
Ensure they have sun tan lotion on and wear a hat to school.

At school we will do the following:

All windows and doors will be opened as early as possible in the morning and blinds will be pulled down.
The use of electric lights will be kept to a minimum.
Children will be told to drink water throughout the day and to refill their water bottles regularly.
There will be no PE lessons indoors or outdoors.
Morning break will be outside under the trees and not on the open areas of the playground or fields.
Lunch break will be indoors as by this time the temperature is predicted to be over 30 degrees.
Classroom activities during the heatwave will be adapted so that the children are kept as cool and comfortable as possible.
School will provide an ice pop for every child as a cooling treat on Monday and Tuesday. (I have just bought ASDA out of 800 ice pops!)

Monday is our transition day and children will be moving to their new classes so it is really important that children attend school. Staff will be on hand to support children and check in on them throughout the day.

Many thanks

Zoe Fletcher